Uniontown YMCA hosts first pickleball tournament
Paula O鈥機onnell
Taking a break between matches at the Uniontown YMCA pickleball tournament are, from left, Barbara Detweiler, Irene Barthmare, JoAnn Harris and Lora Lee Liptak.
Photos: Paula O鈥機onnell
Chet Kaylor returns a serve while teammate Dan O鈥機onnell looks on during the Uniontown YMCA鈥檚 first pickleball tournament, held Monday.
Paula O鈥機onnell
Alan Lane (left) and Uniontown YMCA Director of Mission Advancement Jennifer Starcher organized the facility鈥檚 first pickleball tournament.
The inside courts were buzzing with excitement when the Uniontown YMCA held its first pickleball tournament earlier this week.
鈥淥ur courts are always full every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,鈥� said Jennifer Starcher, director of mission advancement at the YMCA.
Starcher, a graduate of Albert Gallatin High School and California University of Pennsylvania (now PennWest California) was pleased to see 23 people turn out to compete in the tournament held this past Monday.
鈥淥ur oldest participant was 82 and our youngest was 29,鈥� she said.
Players competed in three categories: women鈥檚, men鈥檚 intermediate and men鈥檚 advanced. Players from the Mount Pleasant and Mon Valley YMCAs also played in the tournament, and some regularly play at Uniontown鈥檚 facility.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great sport for all ages,鈥� said Alan Lane, who organized the tournament. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l see grandparents playing with their grandkids. It鈥檚 become a family sport.鈥�
Lane organized seven pickleball tournaments in his former hometown of Salisbury, Md., before moving to Uniontown, and has been enjoying the sport since his retirement in 2016. He encouraged anyone who鈥檚 on the fence about giving the game a try, to do so.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be happy to teach you,鈥� he said.
Combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, pickleball uses a paddle on a plastic ball with holes, utilizing a modified tennis court. While it sounds odd, Lane and others said it is both fun and beneficial for players of all ages.
鈥淭here鈥檚 less room to run on a pickleball court than on a tennis court, so it鈥檚 easier on your knees. When you play, your friends double,鈥� said Lane.
Bill Watson of Belle Vernon agreed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good exercise, it鈥檚 fun, and you meet nice people. I鈥檝e made a lot of good friends,鈥� he said.
Barb Detweiler of Uniontown, who won gold in the women鈥檚 division said, 鈥淚 love the activity, the competition and the friendships. It鈥檚 a good social game. Even when we鈥檙e off the court, we enjoy each other鈥檚 company. I鈥檇 play every day if I could.鈥�
Starcher said she looks forward to holding more community events in the future, including additional pickleball tournaments. In the meantime, those interested in playing can come to the gym at the YMCA in Uniontown at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday or Friday to give it a try.